1. Summary: USAID Administrator and U.S. Director of Foreign
Assistance Henrietta Fore and North Kivu Governor Julien Paluku
reviewed provincial development issues March 15 in Goma. Paluku
emphasized the need for capacity building at all levels of
government to help meet the population's high expectations for the
democratic process. He advocated job creation, adequate
reintegration programs for ex-combatants and investments in
infrastructure. Administrator Fore underscored U.S. support for the
peace process and urged the governor to speak out against violence
against women and work to eliminate rape and gender-based violence.
End summary.

2. USAID Administrator and U.S. Director of Foreign Assistance
Henrietta H. Fore's discussions with North Kivu Governor Julien
Paluku March 15 in Goma focused on the peace process in Eastern
Congo and provincial development issues, particularly North Kivu's
new democratic institutions. Fore was accompanied by USAID
Assistant Administrator for Africa Katherine Almquist, the
Ambassador, Mission Director Steve Haykin, Goma Liaison Officer
Willet Weeks and Special Assistant Wesley Wilson. Paluku was joined
by Vice Governor Feller Lutaichierwa, Provincial Assembly President
Leon Bariyanga and the provincial Minister of Plan.

3. Administrator Fore expressed condolences over the recent death of
one of the Senators from North Kivu, Cyprien Rwakabuba. She
emphasized the U.S. Government's commitment to supporting the peace
process for Eastern Congo and asked the Governor for his views on
how the U.S. might best support the development and the economy of
North Kivu.

4. Paluku thanked USAID for support it has provided to the
provincial government and to the governor's office. The United
States has assisted the government and assembly with technical
expertise, logistics and commodity support to provide new officials
with the tools needed to improve public service and promote good
governance.

5. Paluku stressed the need to strengthen government at both
national and local levels. He observed that key services such as
justice and security do not exist. He said the North Kivu
Provincial Assembly needs capacity building to help its members
address the changed political environment following 2006 elections.
He noted that Congolese have high expectations of the democratic
process, yet ethnic differences continue to dominate political life
in the province.

6. Paluku emphasized the importance of developing projects that
generate jobs. In particular, he underscored the infrastructure and
transportation challenges which have hindered development of the
agriculture sector.

7. Paluku noted that the Joint Commission charged with implementing
the Goma accords will also include subcommissions on military and on
social and humanitarian affairs. The military subcommission will
focus on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) of
armed groups. Ex-combatants who decide to return home will need an
adequate resettlement package. He asserted that the former national
DDR program administered by Conader had failed, and called for
future programming to include adequate reintegration resources.
Paluku said the UN stabilization plan must support this process with
infrastructure and resources.

8. Vice Governor Feller Lutaichierwa also stressed the importance of
infrastructure projects in North Kivu. He thanked the United States
and the international community for their support during the
elections, but regretted that the elected government was established
before the security services had been reformed. He also thanked the
United States for helping bring CNDP into the peace process.

9. Provincial Assembly President Leon Bariyanga said the DRC's
conflicts created a culture of violence. He emphasized that putting
an end to this violence is one of the provincial government's top
priorities. He cited peace and security, and strengthening the
judicial system to end impunity for perpetrators of violent acts, as
critical objectives.

10. The provincial Minister of Plan thanked the Administrator and
USAID for having provided assistance to the provincial government
and expressed its favorable sentiments toward the United States. He
stressed that the provincial government is a new institution and,
with appropriate support, hopes to realize people's expectations for
government services.

KINSHASA 00000297 002 OF 002

10. In closing the meeting, Administrator Fore urged Paluku to speak
out about the need for men to treat women with dignity and eliminate
rape and domestic violence. He said that addressing sexual and
gender-based violence is a daily struggle and he raises the issue of
violence against women at every opportunity.

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